Senior Handbook
Comanche High School
2015-2016
1
Table of Contents
Introduction
College Planning Calendar
Excuses, Excuses
Top 10% Rule
College Application Checklist
Testing for College
ACT vs. SAT
ACT & SAT Dates
How to Register
Test Preparation Resources
The Day Before The Test (Tips)
Sending Your Test Scores
Resumes
Volunteering Forms (Log)
Extracurricular Activity Form
Sample resumes
Recommendations
Request for Recommendation
Senior Information Form
Campus Visits
College Fair Questions
Tips for the college fair
Technical school vs University
ApplyTexas (College Application)
College Admission Essays
Newsweek article: Don’t be bland
Tips for Writing Essays
Essay tips from Univ of Texas
How to Write a College App Essay
Choosing a Major
Occupations with the most jobs
How does one choose a major?
Career websites
Financial Aid & the FAFSA
Applying for financial aid
Scholarships
Additional Financial Aid Sources
 Exemptions
 Grants
 Scholarships
 Loans
 Waivers
 Work Study
 ASU Blue & Gold Guarantee
 Red Raider Guarantee
How to Succeed in College
5 Steps for How to Succeed
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31
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College Planning Calendar for Seniors
September




Narrow your list of colleges. Meet with a counselor about them and, if you’ve not yet done so,
begin completing the college applications. Plan to visit as many of these colleges as possible.
Create a master list or calendar that includes:
o tests you’ll take and their fees, dates and registration deadlines
o college application due dates
o financial aid application forms required and their deadlines
o other materials you’ll need (recommendations, transcripts, etc.)
o your high school’s own application processing deadlines
o If you can’t afford application or test fees, a counselor can help you request a fee waiver.
o If you have not had your SAT & ACT scores sent to the college to which you are applying,
be sure to contact the College Board and ACT to have them sent.
Planning on playing college athletics? Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Apply for scholarships.
October






Try to finalize your college choices.
Prepare Early Decision, Early Action or rolling admissions applications as soon as possible.
Ask your teachers or employers for letters of recommendations if you need them. Give each
recommender an outline of your academic record and your extracurricular activities. For each
recommendation, provide a stamped, addressed envelope and any college forms required.
If you’re submitting essays, write first drafts and ask teachers/counselor and others to read
them.
If you have not had your SAT or ACT scores sent to the college to which you are applying, be sure
to contact the College Board and ACT to have them sent.
Apply for scholarships.
November



Continue completing college applications.
Counselors send transcripts to colleges. Give counselors the proper forms at least two weeks
before colleges require them.
Apply for scholarships.
December



As you finish and send your applications and essays, be sure to keep copies.
If your college wants to see seventh-semester grades, be sure to give the form to your counselor.
Apply for scholarships.
January
 If you apply to colleges online, be sure to have your high school send a transcript .
 Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible after January
1st. This form will qualify you for grants, loans, and work-study programs in college.
 Check for housing deadlines at the college you plan to attend.
 Apply for scholarships.
3
February
 No senioritis, please! Accepting colleges do look at second-semester senior grades.
 Apply for scholarships.
March
 Keep active in school. If you are wait-listed, the college will want to know what you have
accomplished between the time you applied and the time you learned of its decision.
 Complete and turn in local scholarship applications found on the school website.
April
 You should receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April. If you’ve not done so
yet, visit your final college before accepting. As soon as you decide, notify your counselor of your
choice.
 If you have questions about housing offers, talk to your admission counselor or call the college.
May
 May 1: Colleges cannot require a deposit or commitment to attend before May 1. By that
postmarked date, you must inform every college of your acceptance or rejection of the offer of
admission and/or financial aid. (Questions? Talk to your counselor.)
 Send your deposit to one college only.
 Wait-listed by a college? If you will enroll if accepted, tell the admissions director your intent and
ask how to strengthen your application. Need financial aid? Ask whether funds will be available if
you’re accepted.
 Work with a financial aid counselor to resolve any admissions or financial aid problems.
June
 Ask your high school to send a final transcript to your college.
 Request a college transcript (dual credit) and have it sent to the college you will be attending.
4
The 10 Most Common Excuses for NOT Going to College
and Why They're All Wrong!
So you think that college isn't for you? Well, you're wrong! You don't have to be "lucky" or have lots of
money to go to college. You don't have to have straight "A's" in high school or know already what you
want to do with the rest of your life. You do have to really want to go to college - and be ready to work
hard once you get there. Unfortunately, too many students make up excuses for why they can't go to
college. If you're one of those students, here's a list of the 10 most common excuses - and why they're
all wrong. Please share this with others.
EXCUSE #1: Nobody in my family has ever gone to college before. Why not be the first? It's true that
being the first to do anything can be difficult and maybe even a little frightening, but being the first in
your family to receive a college education should give you a sense of pride. Not going to college is the
kind of family "tradition" you should break.
EXCUSE #2: My grades are not good enough for college. How do you know they're not unless you apply?
Even if you haven't obtained all good grades in school, you can still be admitted to a good college that
will be right for you. Colleges look at more than just grades and test scores. They look at such things as
letters from teachers and other adults; extracurricular activities; jobs you might have had; special talents
in art, music, and sports; and interviews. When deciding who gets in, colleges examine the whole
person, not just one small part.
EXCUSE #3: I can't afford it. There's a lot of financial aid available to help you pay for college. This year
alone there are about $26 BILLION waiting for students who need money for college. If you apply for aid,
and you demonstrate that you need it, your chances are as good as anybody else's that you will receive
help. There's money available from the federal government, from your state, from the colleges you
apply to, and from thousands of grant, scholarship, and work-study programs. But you won't see any of
it if you don't check it out.
EXCUSE #4: I don't know how to apply to college, or where I want to go. You're not alone. You can start
by looking at college catalogs in your high school or local library, and you can talk to your high school
counselor, favorite teacher, or someone you know who's gone to college. There's a lot of good advice
available, but you have to ask for it. With more than 3,000 colleges to choose from, there's bound to be
one that's right for you.
EXCUSE #5: I think college may be too difficult for me. Not likely, if you're willing to work hard.
Thousands of students graduate from college every year, and chances are many of them were afraid
college would be too difficult for them - but they made it in spite of their fears. College is a big change
from high school. The competition will be greater and the homework assignments will be longer and
tougher. And it isn't always easy to adjust to strange surrounding and make new friends. But once you
get involved with your work, you'll find that many of your classmates feel as you do. Who doesn't worry
sometimes that they might not make it? And even if you find that you're not doing well in certain
subjects, you can still do something about it. Tutoring is available from professors or fellow students,
and counseling for personal problems is available on campus too.
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EXCUSE #6: I'm not sure that I'll "fit in" in college. Just about any college you might attend will have
students from all kinds of backgrounds, so you are sure to find other people whom you can relate to. If
you're a minority student, for example, find about student clubs sponsored by African Americans,
Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, or other groups. Such clubs can help give you a sense of
community away from home. Regardless of your ethnic background, you should remember that one of
the good things about college is getting to know all kinds of people. It will be interesting to learn about
different life-styles and cultures, and it will help prepare you for the world you will face after graduation.
EXCUSE #7: I don't even know what I want to major in or do with my life. The great majority of college
freshmen don't have a clue about these things either. Giving you choices is what college is all about. You
can take courses in different fields and see what you like and what you're good at. You may be surprised
to find a subject or a career field that you never would have thought of before. The biggest mistake you
can make is to think that any decision you make is cast in concrete and that you can never change your
major - or your life.
EXCUSE #8: There's no way I can go to college full-time. So go part-time. Most colleges offer programs
you can attend in the evening or on weekends. Some colleges even give classes where you work or in
neighborhood churches and community centers. You can also study many subjects through
correspondence courses in home-study programs, and a number of states have external degree
programs that let you work for a degree without - believe it or not - any classroom attendance! Ask your
counselor about these possibilities.
EXCUSE #9: I'm too old to go to college. Nonsense! You're never too old to learn. Even if you've been out
of high school for a while, you can still go to college. Almost half of all full-time and part-time students in
the country are adults older than 25 years of age. If they can do it, so can you!
EXCUSE #10: I just want to get a good job and make lots of money. College will help you with that and
more. Studies have shown that a college graduate will earn several hundred thousand dollars more
during the course of his or her working life than someone who has only a high school diploma. Of
course, money isn't everything, but most challenging and interesting jobs with good futures require a
college education. A college degree will also give you a greater variety of job choices. There's something
else that college will give you: a sense of personal satisfaction, confidence, and self-respect. These are
not easy to measure, but they are very important in helping you become the kind of person you want to
be. There are probably many other reasons you can think of for not going to college. But why sit arouind
making up excuses when you can use that time and energy to do something that will benefit you the rest
of your life? Decide now that you want to go to college and then start working at it. This is the bottom
line: If you are willing to give it a shot, college can be for you too.
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Top 10 Percent Rule for Admissions *
Students who are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class are eligible for automatic
admission to any public university in Texas.
To be eligible for automatic admission, a student must:
o
Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her class at a public or private high school in
Texas, or
o
Graduate in the top 10 percent of his or her class from a high school operated by the U.S.
Department of Defense and be a Texas resident or eligible to pay resident tuition;
o
Enroll in college no more than two years after graduating from high school; and
o
Submit an application to a Texas public university for admission before the institution's
application deadline (check with the university regarding specific deadlines).
o
Students admitted through this route may still be required to provide SAT or ACT scores,
although these scores are not used for admissions purposes. Students must also take the
TSI test, unless exempted from the test requirement. Check with the admissions office
regarding TSI, SAT, and ACT requirements.
After a student is admitted, the university may review the student's high school records to
determine if the student is prepared for college-level work. A student who needs
additional preparation may be required to take a developmental, enrichment, or
orientation course during the semester prior to the first semester of college.
Admission to a university does not guarantee acceptance into a particular college of
study or department, however.
* The University of Texas at Austin is an exception to this rule. UT is required to
notify school counselors what the percentage will be by September 15th for that
year’s junior class of students. For the senior class of 2016, that number is 8%.
For students graduating under the foundation plan with an endorsement: To be
considered for top 10 percent automatic admission under the foundation plan,
students must graduate with a distinguished level of achievement (requires
Algebra 2).
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College Application Checklist
Applications
College #1
Go on college website & request info
Schedule a campus visit
Look at application deadline
Fill out and double check application
Check your appplication status
Make copies of all application materials
Confirm receipt of application
Send suplemental material, if needed
Send in application fee or waiver
Grades
Request HS transcript sent
Request CTC transcript sent
Request midyear report sent
Test Scores
Send ACT & SAT scores
Send AP scores
Send SAT subject test scores* if required
Send Accuplacer/THEA scores* if required
Letters of Recommendation
Request letters of recommendation
Send thank you notes to recommenders
Essays
Write essays
Proof and edit essays
Have two people read essays
Interviews
Schedule interviews* if required
Send thank you notes to interviewers
Financial Aid
Find out priority financial aid deadline
Fill out FAFSA
Submit CSS Profile* if needed
Housing
Fill out housing application
Send in deposit
Send in meningitis vaccine
You're Nearly There!
Receive Admissions Letter
Receive Financial Aid Award Letter
Notify college you will/not attend
Send final HS transcript
Send final college transcript (dual credit)
College #2
College #3
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TESTING FOR COLLEGE
ACT Aspire (Practice ACT)
The ACT Aspire is given to sophomores. This test measures academic skills and abilities and also serves
as a predictor of ACT scores.
PSAT/NMSQT (Practice SAT)
The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) measures critical
reading, math, and writing skills. The PSAT is given to juniors. The PSAT serves as a predictor of SAT
scores and also allows juniors to compete for National Merit Scholarships. It is strongly suggested that
students study the pre-exam materials before the test in order to increase their chances of becoming
a National Merit Scholar.
The results from the PSAT and the ACT-Aspire should be compared to determine whether
the SAT or ACT favors the student.
ASVAB- (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
The ASVAB test provides information to the students about their interests and potential careers. This
test is beneficial to all students even if they have no interest in the military as a career. Recruiters are
not allowed to do any kind of recruiting during the exam.
TSI Assessment
According to the Texas Success Initiative (TSI), students must take a reading, writing, and math skills
test prior to enrolling in any college-level coursework. If one or more sections of the test are not
passed, the college has the flexibility of deciding the best placement for the student. Some students
may be exempt from the TSI requirement based on other test scores. Please see the counselor
regarding exemptions from the TSI requirement.
COLLEGE ADMISSION TESTS (ACT & SAT)
The ACT and SAT are national tests that colleges use to predict a student's success. These test scores are
coupled with high school curriculum, class rank, grade point average, extracurricular activities, and
leadership as part of entry requirements into a university. These tests are generally not required for
two-year colleges or vocational-trade schools. If you will be attending a four-year college, one or both of
these tests must be taken. Most U.S. colleges accept both ACT and SAT scores. It is recommended that
these tests be taken during the spring of the student's junior year or earlier.

ACT- (American College Testing program)
The ACT consists of curriculum based "achievement" tests in the areas of English, math, reading,
science, and an optional writing sample. Some colleges require the writing sample so check the
ACT website to determine i f your college requires it. The ACT is given six times per year.
9

SAT- (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
The SAT consists of critical reading, math, and writing sections. The SAT is given seven times
per year.
You may register online (with a credit card) for both the ACT and SAT or you may pick up registration
bulletins outside of the counselor's office. Study manuals are also available outside of the counselor's
office. Other study materials are available upon request.
ACT/SAT fee waivers are available for students who show financial need. Please visit with the counselor if you
are in need of a fee waiver.
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ACT vs. SAT
What's the difference between the ACT and the SAT?
Both the ACT and the SAT are nationally administered standardized tests that help colleges evaluate candidates. Most
colleges and universities accept either test. So as you begin to think about college and creating the best application
package possible, your admissions plan should begin with the question, "Which test should I take?" When weighing
your options, keep in mind that there are differences in test structure and the type of content assessed. Use the chart
below to see which test makes the most of your strengths to help you determine which test might be best for you.
ACT
SAT
Length
3 hours, 25 minutes
3 hours, 45 minutes
(including the 30minute optional Writing
Test)
Sections
4 test sections (5 with
the optional Writing
Test):
English, Math,
Reading, Science,
Writing (Optional)
10 Sections: 3 Critical
Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing
(incl. the Essay), 1
Experimental (unscored)
Areas Tested
English, Math,
Reading, Science,
Writing (optional)
Critical Reading, Math,
Writing (includes the
Essay), Experimental
(unscored)
Reading
(ACT) /
Critical
Reading
(SAT)
4 Reading
Comprehension
passages, 10 questions
per passage
Reading comprehension
passages and questions,
and sentence completion
questions
Science
Science (analysis,
interpretation,
evaluation, basic
content, and problem
solving)
Science not included
Math
Math accounts for 1/4
of overall score
Math accounts for 1/3 of
overall score
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic, algebra,
geometry, and
trigonometry
Topics Covered:
Arithmetic, geometry,
algebra, and algebra II
Last thing you do
(optional); 30 minutes
First thing you do; 25
minutes
Essay
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


Scoring


Not included in

composite score

Topic of importance to
high school students 
Address
counterarguments
Factored into overall score
More abstract topic (vs.
the ACT)
Pick a side and stick to it
Total composite score
of 1-36 (based on
average of 4 tests) 
Total score out of 2400
4 scores of 1-36 for 
each test
Score of 0-12 for the
optional Essay
3 scores of 200-800 for
each section
Score of 0-12 for the
Essay
Wrong
Answer
Penalty
No wrong answer
penalty
1/4 point subtracted per
wrong answer (except for
Math Grid-in questions)
Test Contact
Information
ACT, Inc.
(319) 337-1000
www.actstudent.org
The College Board
1-866-756-7346
www.collegeboard.com
Sending
You decide which score
Score History is sent
Your entire score history
will be sent automatically
How can I find out if a school accepts the ACT, SAT or both?
You should be able to find this information by visiting the school's website or by calling their admissions office.
How can I figure out which test I might score better on?
Learning about the differences between the two tests is one thing, knowing how you actually might score is another.
The only way to know for sure is to take a practice test. Kaplan offers practice ACT, SAT, or SAT/ACT Combo Tests to
help you identify which test could best showcase your strengths during the admission process.
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ACT Test Dates
Please visit www.actstudent.org for ACT test dates & registration
deadlines.
SAT Test Dates
Please visit https://sat.collegeboard.org/home for SAT test dates &
registration deadlines.
13
To sign up for the ACT or SAT:
1. Go to www.actstudent.org or www.sat.collegeboard.org
2. Create your account.
3. Write down your password and login and keep it in a safe place.
4. Upload a photo of yourself.
5. Print your admission ticket and keep it in a safe place. You must present it on the test day.
6. You must present a photo ID on test day.
Test Preparation Resources
College Board www.collegeboard.org
The college Board is a great source of information on almost all aspects of college preparation.
Kaplan
www.kaplan.com
Number 2.com
This Web site provides free test-prep programs.. www.number2.com
Princeton Review
Princeton Review offers a variety of services with a wide array of costs. The site also includes
college search capabilities. www.princetonreview.com
The ACT
This site provides a large number of helps for students who are planning on taking the
assessment. (It is also a very helpful site for parents.) www.act.org
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The Day Before the Test
Students Should Avoid the Obvious…
Before you know it, it'll be 8:00 Saturday morning and you'll be sitting in the test center with a
test book in front of you. As test day draws near, be sure to review these last-minute tips to help
you do your best.
The Day Before

Gather up everything you're going to need for the next morning. You don't want to be stuck
frantically searching for your admission ticket just before you rush out the door. You'll need
the following items:

Acceptable Photo ID

Your Admission Ticket

Two sharpened No. 2 pencils and a soft eraser (pens and mechanical pencils are not
allowed)

A calculator with fresh batteries

Write down the directions to the test center. Make sure you know how to get to your test
center and how long it'll take you to get there.

Be well-rested and ready to go. Get a good night's sleep the night before the test.

Set two alarms—one in your room and one in someone else's room, in case you hit the
snooze button one time too many.
The Morning of the Test

Eat breakfast. You'll be at the test center for at least four hours and you're likely to get hungry.

Bring snacks. During one of the breaks, you can eat or drink any snacks you have brought
with you. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test.

Leave your cell phone at home. Don't run the risk of having your phone ring or vibrate
during testing. It could cost you your scores! If you are seen using a cell phone or any other
prohibited electronic device while in the test center, or if the device makes noise or vibrates,
you may be dismissed immediately, your scores may be canceled, and the device may
be confiscated. This policy also applies to any other prohibited digital and/or electronic
device such as a Blackberry, pager, PDA, camera or other photographic equipment, or
a separate timer of any kind. We strongly advise you not to bring them.

Arrive at your test center no later than 7:45 a.m. Don't risk getting locked out because you're
30 seconds late. Give yourself plenty of time to get there. Consider traffic, weather conditions,
flat tires, and anything else that could slow you down.
15
During the Test

Use breaks to eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you.

Work only on the section or test you are supposed to be working on. You're not allowed to go
back to a section or test once it has ended. You also can't start the next section or test if you
finish early.

Do easier questions first. You earn just as many points for easy questions as you do for hard
ones.

Make sure you use a No. 2 pencil on the answer sheet. It is very important that you fill in the
entire circle darkly and completely. If you change your response, erase it as completely as
possible. It is very important that you follow these instructions when filling out your answer
sheet.

Use all of your time. Students around you may close up their test books and rest their heads
on their desks, but you know better. Go back to review problems you weren't quite sure about
the first time. Or, if you skipped any hard problems use the time to try to work them out.

Stay positive and focused. Keep your mind on your work, not your score.

Try not to worry about whether you "nailed it" or "blew it." It'll be a long couple of weeks if you
do. Know you did your best—and celebrate. You deserve it.
Good Luck!
Sending Test Scores
Many colleges will not accept test scores sent from your high school. You will have to
request your official scores to be sent through your ACT and College Board accounts. Go
to those websites to request your scores to be sent to the admissions office at your
college. You may choose which scores you send. You have a certain amount of time after
your scores come back to send them to a college for free. After the initial grace period,
there is a fee.
16
Write Your Resume
You should write your resume as soon as possible. Remember that your resume is your way of
advertising your best qualities. You will submit this resume to scholarship committees and future
employers. Appearance and content are equally important in a resume. You must take care that
everything is spelled and worded correctly. I will be more than happy to take a look at your resume and
give you tips and suggestions, so please ask me!
Items which will need updating may include the following:







Your GPA
Membership and offices held in organizations
Awards you and/or your team wins at the end of the sports seasons
Band awards
New volunteering activities
Honors received at events such as Homecoming, Sports and activities banquets
Changes in employment
The following pages include sample resumes, tips on how to word the items in your resume, along with
a worksheet to help you get started. I also have example resumes in my office. Come see me for
suggestions!
Please note:


If you have tons of activities, volunteering, etc., you should create your resume using three text
boxes, which will make it much easier to update.
If you don’t have a great deal of information to put on your resume, you should use a resume
template in Microsoft Word. These are very professional looking, and all you have to do is click
and type your own information.
17
Service to Your Community, School & Church
9th Grade:
Activity
Example:
Senior Citizen Center
Volunteer
My Contribution
Example:
Made and delivered care
packages, visited patients
Location
Example:
Senior Citizen Center,
City, Texas
Dates
FromThru
Ex:
10/103/11
Number
of Hours
Served
Example:
50 hours
10th Grade
Activity
Example:
First Baptist Church Work Day
My Contribution
Example:
Yearly yard clean-up,
building maintenance.
trimmed lawn, painted tool
shed, cleaned flower beds.
Location
Example:
First Baptist Church,
City, TX
Dates
FromThru
Ex:
3/11
Number
of Hours
Served
Example:
8 hours
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Service to Your Community, School & Church
11th Grade:
Activity
Example:
Catholic Church Reader
My Contribution
Example:
Read scripture during
church services on Sunday
mornings, practiced on
Saturday afternoons
Location
Example:
St. Mary’s Catholic
Church,
City, TX
Dates
FromThru
Number
of Hours
Served
Ex:
9/05/11
6/06/12
Example:
100 hours
Dates
FromThru
Number
of Hours
Served
12th Grade
Activity
Example:
Community Rehab
My Contribution
Example: Repaired roof,
replaced siding
Location
Example:
City, Tx
Ex:
06/13
Example:
40 hours
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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY FORM
This form was designed to help you write your resume. Check the boxes of the organizations or
groups of which you have been a member or a participant. If you served as an officer, editor,
etc., write the name of the office or award received in the box.
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Yearbook Staff
National Honor Society
Student Council
Student Leadership Council
FFA Member
FFA –(offices held, awards
received, etc)
FFA Judging or Leadership
Teams
FFA Speaking Events
FCCLA
FCA
Spanish Club
Band Member
Drum Major, Section Leader,
Flag Corp, etc.
Band Solo or Ensemble
Contests
Special Awards in Band
Cheerleading
UIL Contests (debate, lit. crit,
spelling, science, speech
events, math, etc.)
One-Act Play
Theater Club
Honor Student Award
Cross-Country
Volleyball
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Tennis
Track
Baseball
Stock Show
Special Awards in Athletics –
(Team Awards & Individual
Awards)
Church/Youth Groups
Other Organizations (specify)
Honor Student Award
Achievement Awards
Awards or honors not named
above
20
John Student
111 N. Elm St.
City, TX 77777
(325) 200-2222
johnstudent@hotmail.com
Education
______________ High School – City, Texas
2010-2014
GPA- 99.642/100
Class Rank: 2/40
Honors Classes:
Math:Algebra 1(H), Geometry (H), Algebra 2 (H), Pre-Cal (H), AP Calculus
English: English 1 (H), English 2 (H), English 4 (H)
College Courses:
College English 1301 & 1302, College Biology, College History 1301 &
1302, College Government 2301, College Economics 2301
Extracurricular Activities
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National Honor Society, 2010-2012
Treasurer (2011-2012) Completed deposit slips, deposited money in bank. Kept records of
all financial transactions.
Student Council, 2009-2012
Parliamentarian (2010-2012) Displayed sportsmanship by honoring opposing teams;
fundraisers such as food drives, stockings for elderly, and coat drive.
Football, 2008-2011
Track, 2009-2012
Basketball, 2008-2012
Tennis, 2010-2012
UIL Academic Contestant, 2008-2012 (Mathematics, Science)
Achievements/Leadership
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Top ten percent of class
A-honor roll
Presidential Award (Soph)
Commended Performance on all TAKS tests (Soph)
Commended Performance on the Math, Science, and Social Studies TAKS tests (Junior)
Junior Community Service Award (Junior)
Basketball 1st Team all district (Soph)
Basketball 1st Team all district (Junior)
Basketball All-Big Country Honorable mention (Junior)
Football 2nd Team all district (Soph)
Football 1st Team all district running back (Junior)
Football 2nd Team all district safety (Junior)
Football All-West Texas team running back (Junior)
Football All-State Honorable mention running back (Junior)
Football All-Big Country utility player (Junior)
Track regional qualifier for Long Jump and Mile Relay (Junior)
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Community Service
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NHS Blanket Project- Measured, cut, and tied blankets for needy children. (48 hrs.)
NHS Fireworks Stand- Sold fireworks to raise money for community service projects, June & July
2010 (32 hrs.)
NHS fundraisers- Sold donuts and worked concessions to raise funds for service projects, Summer
2011 (18 hrs.)
Statistician- Recorded stats for the football team, Football season 2008-2009 (40 hrs.)
Little Dribblers- Coached junior league basketball, Summer 2010 (20 hrs.)
Landscaping- Planted shrubs, mowed grass, and trimmed hedges for a neighbor, Summer 2009 (3
hrs.)
Assisted community member- Loaded/unloaded furniture into new home, Summer 2009 (3 hrs.)
Meals on Wheels- Delivered meals to elderly citizens, Summer 2010 (4 hrs.)
Booster Club- Sold membership cards to raise funds, Summer 2010 (3 hrs.)
Football Game- Chain crew, Football season 2008 (2 hrs.)
Junior High UIL- Set up and organized papers for Junior High UIL, February 2010 (2 hrs.)
St. Mary’s Church - Set up chairs and tables for meal, Summer 2010 (2 hrs.)
Mayfest Clean-up- Cleaned up after community event, May 2008 (2 hrs.)
Catholic Church Clean-up- Mowed the lawn, raked leaves, and trimmed hedges and trees, May
2011 (4 hrs.)
Elementary Track- Organized and ran events for track meet, May 2011 (6 hrs.)
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Community Hospital- Made beds, filed papers, cleaned hospital rooms and organized medical
supplies, March 2011 (20 hrs.)
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Student Council- Sold ads and other items to raise funds for service projects. (48 hrs.)
Work Experience
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Luke Green, July 2010
Hauled Hay: Loaded hay onto trailer, transported, and unloaded into barn.
Mary Doe, June 2010
Junior High Gardening project: Replaced gravel with a flower bed-removed gravel and
prepared ground for gardening then planted flowers.
Texas Communications, Summer 2009
Facility maintenance: Mowed lawn, roofing, painted the building.
Richard Garcia, June 2009
Fencing: Marked area, drove T-post, and pulled wire to make fence.
Kelly Smith, June 2008
Landscaping: Mowed the lawn, trimmed hedges and trees, watered plants.
Special Skills
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Bilingual
Microsoft Office Specialist Certification
CPR/First Aid Certified
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Joe Student
PO Box 123 City, Texas 76666 325-347 -#### joestudent@hotmail.com
Objective To attend Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater
Work
Experience Everyday Lawn & Garden
City, Texas 2010-2012
 Sprinkler System Installation
 Lawn Maintenance
 Floral Sales
 Responsible for troubleshooting and customer relations
Hay Hauling
City, Texas 2012-2013
 Loading & Transporting Hay Bales
 Cutting hay
 Operating heavy machinery
Best Cattle Company
 Processing Cattle
 Feeding Cattle
 Operations & Repairs
Education
City,Texas 2013-2014
___________ High School May, 2014
ExtraCurricular Varsity Football 2008-2010
Area Champs 2008-2009
Involvement
First Team Defensive Lineman 2008
Second Team All-District Running Back 2008
First Team All-District Running Back 2009
Track & Field 2009
Varsity Baseball 2008-2009
FFA
Livestock Judging, Area Qualifier 2010
4-H
San Antonio Stock Show
2nd Place Hampshire Pig, 2008
5th Place Hampshire Lamb, 2008
3rd Place Fine Wool, 2009
2nd Place Meat Goat, 2010
Houston Stock Show
5th Place Fine Wool Cross, 2008
1st Place Hampshire Lamb, 2009
1st Place Meat Goat, 2009
19th Place Fine Wool Cross, 2010
2nd Place Meat Goat, 2010
Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo
5th Place Meat Goat, 2009
8th Place Hampshire Lamb, 2010
Lauren Juleg Memorial Showmanship Winner
Livestock Judging, 2009
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How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
1. Decide who will be able to write a complimentary letter about you.
 Think of teachers, coaches, principal, counselor, employers, pastor, youth leader,
community leaders.
 The letter writer must be able to offer specific examples of your leadership,
academic ability, character, sense of responsibility, etc.
2. Fill out the Request for Recommendation Letter & write a little note at the bottom saying
you appreciate the recommender and his/her time. (see following page)
o Attach your resume.
o Attach the senior information form.
3. Go back to pick up the letter from the letter writer or include a stamped and addressed
envelope with your request.
Request recommendations from people who know your strengths. Teachers, employers or community
leaders are usually good recommenders.
Ask for recommendations early so there is enough time to get them in comfortably before the deadline.
It's considerate on your part. It's also smart - waiting until the last minute may not allow the recommender
enough time to do you justice and will cause you both unnecessary stress.
Additional tips for requesting recommendations:
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Give your recommender a deadline, allowing at least two weeks to complete the letter
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Provide the recommender with a stamped envelope addressed to the school.
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Provide a list of your activities and awards to facilitate the writing process. (Attach your resume.)
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Send thank you notes to your recommenders. This takes a great deal of time and effort on
the part of your recommenders. You should show your appreciation.
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Let recommenders know your application results.
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Request for Recommendation Letter
TO _____________________________
DATE_________________
FROM __________________________
COLLEGE________________________ MAJOR ________________
CAREER GOAL___________________________________________
I would appreciate a letter of recommendation from you, as I feel you know me well as a student/former student.
Please include specific examples from class illustrating the qualities below:
• Academic motivation
• Academic growth potential
• Leadership
• Responsibility
• Emotional maturity
• Initiative
• Outstanding personal qualities (i.e. enthusiasm, sense of humor)
*** Note from counselor: To help you in the process, consider the fact that colleges prefer concise and specific
letters. Please include examples that support statements that you make about the student. Avoid repeating what
is already on the cumulative record, listing a string of awards and generalities.
Please address your letter of recommendation to the following colleges/agencies listed below:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Deadline for letter: _______________

I have attached an addressed envelope with postage for your convenience.

I will stop by and pick up from you.
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Senior Information for Recommendation
All seniors requesting letters of rec must turn in this form along with an updated resume to your
recommender.
Name: __________________________________
Email: __________________________________
# of children at home: ________________
Today’s Date:_____________________
Cell #: ___________________________
# of children in college: ___________________
Father’s name: ______________________
Mother’s name: _____________________
Occupation: ____________________________
Occupation: ____________________________
Colleges that interest you:
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
Careers or College Majors that interest you:
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3._____________________________________
4. _____________________________________
Deadline for letter: ______________________
Answer the following questions as thoroughly as possible on a separate sheet and staple to this page.
Feel free to type your answers.
Academic:
1. What two or three (academic & personal) accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
2. What do you see as your greatest academic strengths? Weaknesses? Give specific examples.
3. Of all the classes you have taken in high school, which have you enjoyed most and why?
4. Which has been the most difficult for you and why did you take it?
5. What do you see as your greatest personal strength? Weakness? Give specific examples.
6. List three adjectives you would use to describe yourself and explain why.
7. List two adjectives your friends would use to describe you and explain why.
8. List two teachers or staff members who know you well and can speak confidently about your
academic ability. What adjectives would they use to describe you and why?
9. Discuss anything else that you consider special or unique about yourself, something that I might
not know about you.
10. Admission to college and receiving financial aid and scholarships is often affected by family
circumstances and financial need. Please describe any family circumstances, personal issues or
financial concerns you wish to share. This information will be kept confidential.
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Campus Visits
 Campus visits are extremely important for finding the right college match. We
encourage you to make a visit to every college campus you are considering. Prior
to making a college visit, you must alert the office staff that you will be absent. In
addition, you must go on an official campus visit that you have set up through the
admissions office at the college. Most colleges have an on-line campus visit
reservation site where you can sign up for the visit and print the directions and
instructions for parking. Make sure you don’t leave the visit without an excuse for
you to give the registrar.
Campus Visit & College Fair Questions
Questions for the Admissions Office
1. Are the dorms spread throughout the campus or clustered in one area? Is there any kind of shuttle service
between classroom areas, the library, the student union, and dorms? How late does it run?
2. Is there any security system to bar outsiders from entering dorms?
3. How large is the campus security police force? Does it patrol the campus regularly?
4. What services are offered by the campus health center? How large is it?
5. Does the student health center refer students to the local hospital? Is there a nearby hospital? How large
is it?
Questions for Students
6. How many of your courses are taught by a professor and how many by a teaching assistant?
7. Is the teaching innovative and project-oriented, or is it mostly lecture-oriented?
8. Do most freshmen class lectures take place in an amphitheater?
9. What are the strong majors? The weak majors?
10. How hard do you have to work for your grades?
11. What's the reputation of the _____________ department?
12. How adequate for your needs is the campus computer network?
13. Do fraternities and sororities dominate the social life of the college?
14. What do students do on weekends? Do most go home?
15. How is the advisement system? Do you feel that your professors really care?
16. There are a lot of organizations on campus. Are they dominated by a few groups or is anyone welcome?
17. How active is the _________ [fill in the activity in which you're interested]? Has _________ won any
national awards?
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Questions to Ask Yourself About the Campus Atmosphere
18. While you were waiting for your interview in the admissions office, how did the staff members interact
with students? Were they friendly, or did the staff approach students—both potential freshmen like you
and enrolled students—as if they were interfering with the staff members' jobs?
19. Was the Admissions Office a friendly and inviting place with a great deal of information about the school,
or was it cold and sterile with little information to pick up?
20. What did your parents find out about the career planning services offered to graduating seniors and to
graduates? What do the services include?
About the Student Body
21. Do most of the students seem to be like you, or are they completely different?
22. Either way, how would you feel being in a classroom full of these students? Sharing a dorm with them?
23. Do the students try to make you feel at home? Are they happy to answer your questions, or do they make
you feel like you're intruding? How do they interact with one another?
About the Campus
24. Does the campus seem too big? Or too small?
25. Do freshmen live in their own dorms? How do I feel about living in a single-sex or coed dorm?
26. Are the dorms quiet or noisy? Do they seem crowded?
27. How large are the rooms? Is there adequate space and light to study?
28. Does each room have access to the Internet and the campus LAN?
29. What's advertised on dorm and classroom bulletin boards? What does this tell me about campus life?
30. How good is the lighting around each dorm and around classroom and lab buildings?
31. Do the buildings and grounds look well cared for? Or do they need painting and general repair work?
32. Is the grass cut, and are the grounds landscaped?
33. What's the condition of the playing fields and the sports equipment?
34. How is the quality of the food in the cafeteria or dining hall? How are the sizes of the portions? Is it
healthy or fast food? Are there meal plans?
About the Nearby Area
35. Does it look like there is much to do outside of campus?
36. How easy is to get to places off campus? Are there places within walking distance?
37. Do you feel comfortable and safe?
38. Are there places to get extra furniture, like bookcases, for your dorm room?
39. Is there a supermarket nearby to stock up on snacks and soda?
40. If you move out of a dorm after freshman year, what are the options in apartment complexes or
buildings?
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Tips for Getting the Most out of the
College Fair
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Verify admissions requirements
o ACT Test
o SAT Test
 Ask about minimum score requirements
o TSI Assessment
o Which essays, A, B or C?
Ask about dorms and dining halls.
Ask about campus clubs and organizations.
If you play sports, ask about getting involved in intramural teams. They may have football, basketball,
tennis, etc.
Ask about average costs
o Dorms
o Meal Plans
o Tuition
o Books
Ask about deadlines for admissions & housing applications.
Ask about financial aid and scholarships. Ask if they can give you any tips on getting more scholarship
money out of the college.
Ask about getting a job on campus. Are they plentiful? How difficult is it to get a good job?
Inquire about campus life and social activities.
Discuss your chances for success. Be honest. Tell them your grades in high school and your ACT/SAT
scores, if you have taken them.
Ask about the study commitment. How many hours per week will I have to study in order to be
successful?
Are tutors available? How hard is it to find a tutor? How much do they cost?
Should I Consider a Technical
School?
Traditional Colleges vs. Technical/Career Schools: The Pros and Cons
You’ve reached the chapter in your life when it’s time for you to think about your future. Some of your friends have
been accepted at the local community college, or a nearby four year university. But, you just aren’t sure if that is the
right option for you. Should you attend a traditional college like your friends, or enroll in a technical/career school?
Let’s face it. Everyone is not college material. That doesn’t mean you are not intelligent! It simply means that there
are people who enjoy learning for its own sake, while there are others who are more focused on learning a specific
skill or a trade. There’s nothing wrong with that. This is why both kinds of schools exist in order to give people a
choice.
A traditional college degree or a technical/career school which will it be for you? It might be a good idea to make a
list of the pros and cons of each in order to make the best decision for your circumstances. You should write down
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both the benefits and the disadvantages of each type of learning institution. Do you have a specific career goal?
Write it down. Are there some school subjects that you just can’t stand? Make a note of them. Can you fit the
rigorous schedule of a four year college or university into your life? Would you prefer classes that meet at night, or
perhaps distance learning where you use a computer to study at a time and place convenient for you? What is your
dream job, and what sort of training do you need to make this job happen? How much will college or technical
training cost? All of these questions are important in helping you to make a decision, and only you can answer
them.
In researching traditional colleges and technical schools, some things are easy to see from the start. Traditional
colleges can be expensive, and demand a huge chunk of your time and life. Many have high admissions standards,
and you may end up with a degree that won’t help you to find a job when you graduate. This might mean that you
will have to continue your education in order to get a job in a different field.
On the other hand, traditional colleges and universities allow you to expand your mind and study subjects you might
never get a chance to pursue again. Traditional colleges can open your eyes to the world around you. You will meet
people from all over the globe who are in pursuit of the same goal as you higher education. Aside from academics,
college life is an experience you won’t soon forget. Attendance at a traditional college can lend an air of prestige to
a job application, something that may or may not be of interest to you.
Technical/career schools allow you to receive training or a diploma in a much shorter time than a traditional college.
The classes are more focused on the subject you want to learn about without many of the other required courses
that you may have to take at a traditional college. The training is hands-on, so necessary in today’s world. The
class schedules are more flexible than those of traditional colleges. There will always be a need for career training.
In fact, some of the fastest growing jobs do not require a four year college diploma. Medical and dental assistants,
physical and respiratory therapists, medical record and environmental science technicians are just a few of these.
Even though, for some reason, our society seems to feel that college is a necessity for all young people, the jobs
listed above, and many more, prove that a diploma from a four-year college is not absolutely needed in order to
have a well-paying job.
Ultimately, the choice is up to you. The best way to choose between a traditional college or a technical/career
school is to weigh the pros and cons of each, and know what you want out of life. No matter what you choose, you
can rest assured that there will be a place for you in the world after you have taken the time to further your
education.
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The college application for Texas public four year universities can be found at…
www.applytexas.org
Set up an online account and begin completing the 2016-2017 ApplyTexas college
application. The application should open on August 1, 2015.
A preview of the application is currently available on www.applytexas.org.
All college deadlines (admission, scholarship, financial aid, etc) are listed on
the applytexas.org website. Do not miss deadlines!!! Instructions for
completing the application are on the applytexas website.
Also, many universities have their scholarship application tied to the
applytexas admission application. Check for this on the applytexas site and
fill it out!!!
If the college you will be attending does not have an application on applytexas.org,
then check the college’s website for the application.
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College Admission Essays
They are of the utmost importance.
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Essays are read by the admissions officers and the scholarship committees.
They are looking for a “mind at work.” Make sure your essays are:
o Well written
o Interesting or entertaining
o One page at least, but length is not the issue.
I have several books in my office for much more help and ideas for essay writing.
WRITING ESSAYS
This is your opportunity to show how unique you are to colleges. Essay questions on applications help
admissions officers understand your motivations, creativity, and personality. That's why it is important to
start writing your essays as early as possible. Make your essays personal, but stay within the guidelines
and carefully answer the questions.
Don't be intimidated by essay questions. Sometimes the best answers are those that you can write
quickly because you feel strongly about the question. If you labor for too long, you may be answering the
wrong question for you. Remember to strike a balance on time: don't take a month to write an essay, but
don't throw something together without thinking about it.
Writing Tips To strengthen your essay:
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First make an outline to organize your thoughts.
Give special attention to creating a strong introduction, supporting arguments, and an appropriate
conclusion. Every story has a beginning, middle, and end.
Revise as necessary. Ask others for their feedback (but don't ask them to write it)
Proofread the final version before sending it.
College Essays: Don't Be Bland
College applicants need to show the person behind the test scores and grades. Pomona's
admissions dean suggests how. By Bruce Poch Newsweek Aug. 21-28, 2006 issue –
For admissions officers, reviewing applications is like final-exam week for students—except it lasts for months.
Great applications tell us we've done our job well, by attracting top-caliber students. But it's challenging to
maintain the frenetic pace without forgetting these are all real people with real aspirations—people whose life
stories we are here to unravel, if they will let us.
The essay is a key piece of learning those life stories. I live near Los Angeles, where every day screenplays are read
without regard for human context. The writer's life and dreams don't matter—all that matters is the writing, the
ideas, the end product. On the other hand, in reading essays, context does matter: who wrote this? We are driven
to put the jigsaw puzzle together because we think we are building a community, not just choosing neat stories.
When I pick up a file, I want to know whether the student has siblings or not, who his parents are, where he went
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to high school. Then I want the essay to help the rest of the application make sense, to humanize all the numbers
that flow past. I am looking for insight.
A brilliantly written essay may compel me to look beyond superficial shortcomings in an application. But if no
recommendation or grade or test score hints at such writing talent, I may succumb to cynicism and assume the
writer had help—maybe too much. In the worst cases, I may find that I have read it before—with name and place
changed—on the Internet, in an essay-editing service or a "best essays" book.
The most appealing essays take the opportunity to show a voice not rendered homogeneous and pasteurized. But
sometimes the essays tell us too much. Pomona offers this instruction with one essay option: "We realize that not
everything done in life is about getting into college. Tell us about something you did that was just plain fun." One
student grimly reported that nothing was fun because in his family everything was about getting into college.
Every activity, course choice and spare moment. It did spark our sympathy, but it almost led to a call to Child
Protective Services as well.
Perfection isn't required. We have seen phenomenal errors in essays that haven't damaged a student at all. I
recall a student who wrote of the July 1969 lunar landing of—I kid you not—Louis Armstrong. I read on, shaking
my head. This student was great—a jazz trumpeter who longed to study astronomy. It was a classic slip and
perhaps a hurried merging of two personal heroes. He was offered admission, graduated and went on for a Ph.D.
in astrophysics. He may not have been as memorable if he had named "Neil" instead of "Louis" in his essay's
opening line. Hey, we're human, too.
An essay that is rough around the edges may still be compelling. Good ideas make an impression, even when
expressed with bad punctuation and spelling errors. Energy and excitement can be communicated. I'm not
suggesting the "I came, I saw, I For office use only: Date sent:__________ Initials: ________ conquered" approach
to essay writing, nor the "I saved the world" angle taken by some students who write about community-service
projects. I'm talking about smaller moments that are well captured. Essays don't require the life tragedy that so
many seem to think is necessary. Not all admission offers come out of sympathy!
Admissions officers, even at the most selective institutions, really aren't looking for perfection in 17- and 18-yearolds. We are looking for the human being behind the roster of activities and grades. We are looking for those who
can let down their guard just a bit to allow others in. We are looking for people whose egos won't get in the way
of learning, students whose investment in ideas and words tells us—in the context of their records—that they are
aware of a world beyond their own homes, schools, grades and scores. A picture, they say, is worth a thousand
words. To us, an essay that reveals a student's unaltered voice is worth much, much more.
Tips for Writing College Admissions Essays:
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Be yourself. Be sincere. Admissions committees are looking for insight into the students’ character and
background, their experiences and point of view, and their intellectual ideas and curiosity.
Find your passion. What are you passionate about? Let the admissions committee understand your drive,
determination, and heart. Present yourself and your goals clearly and honestly.
Be creative. Think of the essay as a letter to someone. Be very descriptive and specific in your writing.
Don’t try to include too much in your essay. Choose one specific topic and spend the entire essay describing
the topic in detail. Focus on one event or idea rather than trying to cover an entire subject.
Read superior essays of other writers. Notice how they tell a story. Notice how they draw in a reader.
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Edit it. Rewrite. Chances are you will not write the perfect essay in one sitting. Take time to think deeply and
allow yourself time to make revisions.
Essay Writing Tips from The University of Texas
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Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear. The university’s essay readers don’t have a perfect essay in
mind—as a matter of fact essays that sound like all the rest of them—the essay that is expected—is more
likely to be overlooked.
Be yourself. Show us what makes you unique, how you’ve dealt with issues and problems, what you think
about the topic at hand. Good writing teachers tell their students to write about what they know. That’s good
advice for college essays, too.
Use a natural voice and style. Although it’s always important to use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation,
diction, etc., don’t write to try to impress anyone. Use words and a style that are appropriate for the topic
you’re writing about, for someone your age, and for someone who’s trying to communicate clearly and
logically.
Don’t be overly informal either. Your essay will be read by an adult professional. In almost all cases, you
should avoid using words or phrases that you might use when texting someone or on a social networking site.
Develop your ideas. Although the length of your essay alone technically doesn’t matter, developing your
ideas completely does matter. If you can do that in a single page of text, that’s good; but if it takes you three
pages or so, that’s all right, too (as long as you’re not just adding words to make your essay longer). It’s not
realistic to assume that you can clearly communicate your unique perspective about anything in a short
paragraph or two.
Organize your thoughts. All good writing has a beginning, a middle, and an end. That doesn’t mean you
should be formulaic in your writing (this isn’t a high school exit exam), but you should introduce your idea,
provide interesting examples and details in support of your idea, and come to some sort of conclusion at the
end.
Don’t respond to the prompt as though you’re answering a question. Again, we don’t have a perfect essay in
mind. The prompt is supposed to get your mind churning, to make you want to tell us what you think about
something that’s important to you. Your essay is your opportunity to do that.
Take your time. Spend plenty of time writing and fine-tuning your essays, and ask for feedback from people
you trust before submitting your essays. Remember that your goal is to share important things about yourself
while skillfully expressing yourself in writing.
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HOW TO WRITE A COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY
By Margaret Metzger
Brookline High School, Massachusetts
Many colleges require a short essay as part of the application process. The directions for the essay vary
from college to college. Most colleges offer some variation of the topic. "Tell us more about yourself.”
Like most students, you might hate this subject and dread writing the essay. You know that it is a crucial
piece of writing and that it must be done, but secretly you hope somehow to avoid the task. Like most
tasks, the tension created by procrastinating is worse than the work itself-in this case, just sitting down
and writing the essay.
You can use the college essay to strengthen your application. In fact, your essay can be the strongest
part, presenting you as a thoughtful, sincere, interesting applicant. You can use the college essay to
explain mistakes of the past-failed courses, low SAT® scores, or few extracurricular activities. Best of all,
you can demonstrate that you know how to write well, an ability all colleges value.
FIND A TOPIC
Colleges genuinely want to know who you are. Although it is difficult to believe, they do not have an
"ideal student" in mind. They want a variety of students. They understand that they can't know
everything about you by your grade point average and your SAT scores. They want to know what kind of
person you are, what aspirations you have, what struggles you have gone through, what is important to
you. They ask you to write an essay about yourself because they want more personal information.
Before you write, think about how you may be different from other applicants. What unusual experience
would you bring to the college? What interests, activities, travel, struggles, or situations have had a
particular impact on you? You are probably thinking, "Nothing is special about me; I'm just an average
kid:' That's what most students think. Sometimes it helps to ask other people what they think is unique
about you. If you know exactly what you want to write about, you are lucky. Use that topic. Be sure to
consider the traditional, but appropriate and effective, topics, such as academic achievements,
extracurricular activities, travel and work experiences, and life-changing events.
Also think of more subtle accomplishments. What kind of student are you? In which class did you learn
to think, to study? What do you do with your free time? What have you done for the past two summers?
What words would you use to describe your personality? Do you belong to any organizations outside
high school? What jobs have you held? What have you learned about organizing your time? Who is your
most unusual friend? What magazines, newspapers, columnists, or authors do you like to read? What
are some of the failures or disappointments in your life? What kind of plans do you have for the future?
Who has been influential in your life?
What responsibilities do you have at home? What do you do for other people? What does music
(particularly playing or composing) mean to you? How have you changed (besides physically) in the last
four years?
35
BE SPECIFIC
Remember that the admissions board is reading hundreds of applications, and you must make yours
memorable. Some students resort to gimmicks: 8-inch-by-10-inch glossy pictures of themselves hang
gliding, or a videotape or a cartoon book about themselves. You may have heard stories about an
ordinary student getting into an exclusive college by taking a creative or startling approach. But
gimmicks are high risk. Maybe the admissions board does not have the time or the equipment to play
tl1e videotape of your band. Maybe you will seem egocentric or cute or, more likely, as though you are
dodging the difficult task that everyone else has done: writing an essay.
You can make yourself stand out from the crowd and stress your individuality by a less risky method.
Your English teachers have been telling you for years to use specifics when you write.
Specifics make a piece of writing memorable. This basic principle of good writing applies, as well, to
writing the college essay. Be specific. Tell the truth about yourself as specifically as possible. If you claim
that you like school, say exactly what you like: "I like biology and got particularly interested in a threemonth project I did about algae on the teeth:' Always be as specific as possible.
NARROW YOUR TOPIC
You have only one-and-a-half to two pages for this essay. You can’t write about everything that has ever
happened to you. You need one to three topics for this paper. You must pick a few of the most
important aspects of your identity. If you cover too much, you will be forced to be superficial. Don't say,
"I like school. I am a leader. I play basketball. I've traveled to Sri Lanka, Alaska, Iowa, and South Africa. I
play the violin. I work every weekend. I believe in responsibility. I want to be famous:' Pick one, two, or
at the most, three important things about yourself and concentrate on them.
SHOW, DON'T TELL
You need to know and apply the writing principle of "show, don't tell"; Give the readers such convincing
evidence that they draw the conclusion you want them to draw. If you provide all the evidence of your
fine qualities, you don't have to list them. Besides, the college will be much more likely to consider you
sincere if you give examples rather than a list of glorious adjectives about yourself. For instance, you
might be embarrassed to say, "I am extremely responsible.” Instead you could say, "Last summer, I was
put in charge of 12 ten-year-old girls for a three-day hike.” When the college admissions board members
read your example, they will come to the conclusion, "Ah, some adult must have felt this applicant could
be responsible for a dozen children's health and safety for several days. This sounds like a responsible
person.” Give your readers the evidence and examples, and they will reach the right conclusions.
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
You don't need a long list of flashy experiences. What you have experienced is not as important as what
you have done with the experience. Real maturity depends on how you understand what has happened
to you and whether you let your experiences change your perceptions.
Colleges want to know how you have reacted to your experiences. For example, many students have
failed some test or course. Colleges would like to know what you did with that failure. Did you mope?
Blame the teacher? Quit doing homework because you were angry at the failure? Did you see the failure
as a warning, an impetus, a challenge? Even if you write about something exotic, you must say what you
did and what you learned. One student went to Israel for two weeks; her only observation was that the
36
Israeli women wore longer skirts than the Americans. Her trivial description revealed her immaturity and
poor powers of observation. 'When you are explaining what you learned, do not say, "I learned a lot.” Be
specific. Tell exactly what you learned. You want to show colleges that you will change and grow through
a college education.
FOCUS ON YOURSELF
If you feel self-conscious writing the essay, you may be tempted to dodge the task of writing about
yourself and write, instead, about something related to you, such as a group or an organization you
belong to. Avoid this approach.
WORK ON THE FIRST SENTENCE
There are two opposing approaches to making a strong opening sentence. The first suggestion is that
you spend hours on the first sentence because it sets the tone and direction of the essay. The reasoning
is that you need to know where you are going before you begin. The problem with this approach is that
students become paralyzed trying to find the perfect beginning.
The second suggestion is that you begin anywhere and write the first sentence last. The reasoning is that
you need to get started, and you don't know what you will end up saying until you have finished the
essay. You may discover that your essay really begins in the middle of the second or third paragraph,
and you can cut out all the preliminaries. Then you can start with a sturdy statement. The problem with
this approach is that you might begin an essay without a sense of direction and wander too much.
You may go back and forth between trying to write a perfect beginning and just trying to get started. No
matter what you do, when you finish the essay, go back to the beginning and work on the first
sentences. Cut out all wordiness. Make it specific. Check the grammar.
FINAL BIT OF ADVICE
Millions of students before you have written college essays. They hated the task, too. But it must
get done. Of course, it is better to write it long before the deadline. The real problem for most
students is how to get started, what topic to use, and how to avoid procrastination.
The solution is simply to begin.
College Counseling Sourcebook, 3rd Edition. © 2006 The College Board. All rights reserved.
Permission granted to copy this for educational purposes.
37
Occupations with the Most Job Openings: Graduate Degree
Occupation
Total Job
Openings
2008–2018
Postsecondary teachers
553,000
Doctors and surgeons
261,000
Lawyers
240,000
Clergy
218,000
Pharmacists
106,000
Educational, vocational,
and school counselors
94,000
Physical therapists
79,000
Medical scientists, except
epidemiologists
66,000
Mental health and
substance abuse social
workers
61,000
Instructional
coordinators
61,000
Occupations with the Most Job Openings: Bachelor's Degree
Occupation
Total Job
Openings 2008–
2018
Elementary school
teachers, except
special education
597,000
Accountants and
auditors
498,000
Secondary school
teachers, except
special and vocational
education
412,000
38
Middle school
teachers, except
special and vocational
education
251,000
Computer systems
analysts
223,000
Computer software
engineers,
applications
218,000
Network systems and
data communications
analysts
208,000
Computer software
engineers, systems
software
153,000
Construction
managers
138,000
Market research
analysts
137,000
Occupations with the Most Jobs Openings: Associate's Degree or Postsecondary
Vocational Award
Occupation
Total Job
Openings
2008–2018
Registered nurses
1,039,000
Nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants
422,000
Licensed practical and
licensed vocational
nurses
391,000
Computer support
specialists
235,000
Hairdressers, hairstylists,
and cosmetologists
220,000
39
Automotive service
technicians and
mechanics
182,000
Preschool teachers,
except special education
178,000
Insurance sales agents
153,000
Heating, air conditioning,
and refrigeration
technicians
136,000
Real estate sales agents
128,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How Does One Choose A Major?
Some have a passion for a subject. Some have an area in which they excelled in high school. Some have
a career goal that will dictate the major they must take; for example, nursing, teaching, studio art, or
engineering. But many students just don’t know. While they may have an idea of what they want to do
after college, they might not have a clear idea what area of study will best help them reach that career
goal. Nor is there usually only one major that leads to a specific career. In fact, many schools caution
that choosing a career and choosing a major are two distinctly different processes.
Most educators agree that in choosing a major, students should consider what they like to do, what
their abilities are, and how they like to learn. Some of the best resources for helping choose a major
come from colleges and universities themselves. A large number of institutions post on their Web sites a
wealth of information and tools to help prospective and current students select majors. While some
Web sites focus entirely on the programs and services offered at that institution, many others post
helpful information that can be applied to any college setting.
The most frequently cited advice includes:
Learn more about yourself. What are your academic strengths and weaknesses? What do you enjoy?
What are your interests? What are your values? What are your immediate goals after graduating—
getting a job or going to graduate school?
Take a personality or an interest inventory or assessment. I have several of these in books in my office.
Please come check one out!
The book the students seem to get the most helpful info from is the Book
several copies in my office, so come pick one up.
of Majors. I have
40
Occupations and Professions
These links below can assist in the awareness and exploration of occupations and professions. The
websites will provide important information about careers to assist in making personal choices.
Occupational Outlook Handbook:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/
Health Careers in Texas:
http://www.texashealthcareers.org/
College Board Major and Career Profiles:
http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/index.html
Career One Stop
“Career One Stop” is a website that provides short video clips viewable online and covers InDemand Occupations. Contains a wealth of information for students, parents, and career advisors. This
website is: http://www.careeronestop.org/studentsandcareeradvisors/studentsandcareeradvisors.aspx.
JobHunter's Bible.Com
This site is produced by the writers of the popular career planning book “What Color is Your
Parachute?” It is rich in career assessments and planning and exploration
tools. http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/
CareerShip
This Web site is primarily a source for information to career exploration. It includes excellent
information and tools to help students make important career decisions and plan ways to reach career
goals: http://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/careership/
The Career Key
Sponsored by the College of Education at North Carolina State University, this site provides a free
career assessment, which will aid you in choosing a career pathway: www.careerkey.org
41
Financial Aid & the FAFSA
Don’t be scared…
Things to know right now:
 The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the
form that qualifies a student for grants, loans, and work-study
programs. Students cannot complete the form until after
January 1 of the senior year.
 You can fill out the FAFSA4caster (optional) right now at the
fafsa.gov website.
o This tool will give you a good idea of what your
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is so you can
compare it to the Cost of Attendance (COA) at the
schools you are looking at.
 You can apply for your FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID)now.
Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing
your financial aid information and electronically signing
your FAFSA. A FSA ID link is available at the fafsa.gov website.
 Parent and child need their own FSA ID. Make sure to keep
these straight. If you get them mixed up, you are in for a world
of frustration.
 Your FSA ID will remain the same for any subsequent children.
If you have already filled out the FAFSA for an older child, you
will use the same FSA ID.
 Alert your tax preparer that you will be filling out the FAFSA
for your senior child and that you need your completed tax
returns as soon after January 1 st as possible.
 Never pay anyone to fill out the FAFSA for you. It’s not that
hard, and we will help you along the way. Just ask!!
 The FAFSA must be filled out every year you are in college.
 Even if you will not qualify for aid, you must fill out the FAFSA
to be eligible for institutional scholarships.
The most important part of the financial aid process is completing the FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is the form that will qualify the student for grants, work -study,
loans, etc. You may complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov.
You cannot submit the FAFSA until after January 1 of your senior year sinc e it requires tax
information up through December 31. You need to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after
January 1 so you will need to get your taxes done early. If you know that it will be several months
before your parents get their taxes done, then you can use estimates on the FAFSA. If the
estimates are incorrect, you will need to make changes once you get the correct amounts. Be
sure and check college deadlines so that you submit the FAFSA on time.
Once the FAFSA is submitted, if you have a major family change, such as a divorce, loss of job,
42
major family illness, or any other special circumstance (maybe the student is completely
independent and receives NO support at all from parents), then you need to let the people in the
college financial aid office know. They will work with you if there are special circumstances.
If you are visiting colleges, applying to a college, or already admitted, YOU NEED TO BECOME
A PERSON TO THE PEOPLE IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. Meet the people that can help
you most, and ask about all of the possible programs they have that you might apply for. Ask
about university scholarships, departmental scholarships, work -study programs, loans,
deadlines, etc.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Applying for scholarships is a year-long process. The earlier you begin, the more money you
are likely to receive. Start searching for scholarships before your senior year. By the time school
starts, some national scholarship deadlines have already passed.
 Fill out every scholarship form that you qualify for.
 Go to the website of your college and find the scholarship page and complete the scholarship
application(s).
Many students receive scholarship money this way!!! Also, many
universities have their scholarship application tied to the applytexas admiss ion
application. Check for this on the applytexas site and fill it out!!!
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Many scholarships are available online. Research the web. Go to any
search engine, and type "scholarships". You will be amazed at the number of scholarships that
come up.
Local scholarship applications usually start arriving in early January. The counselor will
keep you notified of these. Check the counselor’s web page frequently.
If the scholarship requires an essay, write it. Many students will not take the time to write an
essay, so your odds are better!
Do not miss deadlines!
Many scholarships are available for your family's particular situation. Many scholarships are job,
insurance company, military experience...related. Be sure and check on these because many times
schools never hear about these scholarships.
FOR A DETAILED SCHOLARSHIP LISTING THAT IS UPDATED MONTHLY, GO TO
www.collegeguidanceconsultants.com. You will need to obtain a username and password from
the counselor before you access this site.
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH HELP:
scholarships.com
gocollege.com
fastweb.com
collegenet.com
academicassist.com
OR use any search engine, and type in "scholarships".
43
TOP 10 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
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Apply for anything and everything. Apply for anything you think you might be eligible to receive.
Complete the application in full. Note if something is not applicable on the application. Do not leave
items blank.
Follow directions.
Neatness counts. Make photocopies for working drafts.
Make sure your essay leaves an impression. Be personal and specific in your essays. Include concrete
details.
Watch all deadlines. Have a self-imposed deadline two weeks prior to the actual due date. Use this as
proofreading time.
Give it a final “once over” before you submit your application. You and another person should
proofread the entire application carefully.
Ask for help if you need it. If you need to, do not hesitate to call the funding organization.
Take steps to make sure your application gets where it needs to go. Make a copy of the entire packet
and keep it for your files.
Remember, your scholarship application represents you!
Additional Financial Aid Sources
The following information is taken from www.collegefortexans.com. This site provides many different types of
financial aid available for particular family situations. Click on the links below for more information about each
program.
Types of Financial Aid
You and your family can choose from many different types of financial aid. Some are based on financial need, and
some on academic performance. Others are tied to a student's or family's ability to borrow. Not all colleges and
universities participate in all programs, but the more you know about financial aid, the better prepared you’ll be.
Here you’ll find links to the many kinds of financial aid available to students attending Texas colleges and
universities. You can also search for a particular program on the College for Texans website.
 Exemptions
 State and Federal Grants and Scholarships
 Private/Corporate Grants and Scholarships
 Loans
 Loan Repayment Programs
 Tax Credits and Other Programs
 Waiver Programs
 Work Study Programs
 $1000 Tuition Rebate Program
Types of Financial Aid - Exemptions
Exemptions are a type of financial assistance allowing some Texas residents to attend a public college or
university in Texas without paying tuition or, in some cases, tuition and fees.
Listed below are the exemption programs available to Texas residents.
 Adopted Students Formerly in Foster or Other Residential Care
 Blind/Deaf Student Exemption Program
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Children of Disabled or Deceased Firemen, Peace Officers, Game Wardens, and Employees of Correctional
Institutions
Combat Exemption for Children of Military Service Members
Concurrent Enrollment Waiver (Enrollment in Two Texas Community Colleges)
Early High School Graduation Scholarship (*** FUNDING DISCONTINUED *** last updated May 2012)
Educational Aide Exemption
Exemption for Highest Ranking High School Graduate
Exemption for Peace Officers Disabled in the Line of Duty
Exemption for Peace Officers Enrolled in Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Courses
Exemption for Students Enrolled in Courses for Dual High School and College-Level Credit
Exemption for Students under Conservatorship of the Dept. of Family and Protective Services
Exemption for the Surviving Spouse and Minor Children of Certain Deceased Public Servants (Employees)
Exemption from Irrelevant Fees
Exemption of Out-of-District Fees for Certain Students Living Outside a Public Community/Junior College's
Taxing District
Exemption Program for Children of Professional Nursing Program Faculty and Staff
Exemption Program for Clinical Preceptors and Their Children
Fee Proration for Students Enrolled in Shorter than Average Terms
Firefighters Taking Fire Science Courses
Hazlewood Exemption (for Texas Veterans)
Military: Children of U.S. Military who are Missing in Action or Prisoners of War (MIA/POWs)
Military: Orphans of Texas Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard
Military: Texas National Guard Tuition Assistance Program
Senior Citizen, 55 or Older, Tuition Reduction Program
Senior Citizen, 65 or Older, Free Tuition for 6 Credit Hours
Senior Citizen, 65 or Older, Free Tuition for Auditing Classes
TANF Exemption Program
TAPS for Tuition Program
Tuition Reduction for Students Taking More than 15 Hours
Types of Financial Aid - State and Federal Grants and Scholarships
State and Federal Grants and Scholarships provide financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Some grants and
scholarships require the student to maintain a certain grade point average (GPA) or take certain courses. Most
grants are awarded on the basis of financial need.
This section lists the State and Federal Grants and Scholarship programs available to students at Texas colleges
and universities.
 Education and Training Vouchers for Youths Aging Out of Foster Care
 Engineering Scholarship Program ( *** FUNDING DISCONTINUED *** last updated May 2012)
 Federal PELL Grant
 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
 Federal Teacher Quality Enhancement Scholarships from the U.S. Department of Education
 Fifth Year Accounting Student Scholarship Program
 Kenneth H. Ashworth Fellowship Program
 Marine Corps Foundation Scholarship
 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship
 Professional Nursing Scholarships ( *** FUNDING DISCONTINUED *** last updated May 2012)
 Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program
 Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program (TEOG)
 TEXAS Grant
 Texas Public Educational Grant
45
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Top 10 Percent Scholarship
Tuition Equalization Grant Program
Vocational Nursing Scholarships ( *** FUNDING DISCONTINUED *** last updated May 2012)
Types of Financial Aid - Loans
 Federal Direct Consolidation Loans
 Federal Direct Plus Loans
 Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
 Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
 Federal Perkins Loan Program
 Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP)
 Texas B-On-Time Student Loan Program (BOT)
 Texas College Access Loan Program (CAL)
 Texas Loan Comparison Chart
Types of Financial Aid - Loan Repayment Programs
 Border County Doctoral Faculty Education Loan Repayment Program
 John R. Justice Loan Repayment Program
 Loan Repayment Program for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (redirect to federal web site)
 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (redirect to federal web site)
 Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Assistance Program
 Physician Education Loan Repayment Program
 St. David's Foundation Public Health Corps Loan Repayment Program
 Teach for Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Types of Financial Aid - Tax Credits and Other Programs
 $1,000 Tuition Rebate for Certain Undergraduates
 Americorps
 Capital IDEA
 Federal Tuition and Fees Tax Deduction
 Hope Tax Credit
 Lifetime Learning Tax Credit
 Project QUEST, Inc.
 Tax Deductions for Interest Paid on Educational Loans
Types of Financial Aid - Waivers
 Academic Common Market Waiver
 Border County Waiver
 Bordering States Waiver
 Competitive Scholarship Waiver
 Dual Medical/Philosophy Degree Waiver (Biomedical Research Scholarship Student Waiver)
 Economic Development and Diversification Waiver
 Good Neighbor Scholarship Program
 Mexican Citizens with Financial Need-Border County Waiver
 Mexican Citizens with Financial Need-Border Nations Waiver
 Military: After Assignment in Texas
 Military: Assigned to Duty in Texas
 Military: Honorably Discharged, Separated or Retired Veterans who Move to Texas
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Military: Member, Spouse or Child who Remains Continuously Enrolled in Higher Education in Texas
Military: NATO Forces
Military: Persons Eligible for Veterans Educational Benefits, Their Spouses and Children who Move to
Texas
Military: Radiological Science Students of Midwestern State University
Military: Spouse and Dependents Who Previously Lived in Texas
Military: Survivors
Out-of-State Military: If Family Intent is to Make Texas Home
Research Assistants and Teaching Assistants Waiver
Tuition Waiver for Students from Neighboring States Continuing Upper Level Undergraduate Studies
Waiver for College Faculty and their Dependents
Waiver for Nonresidents Enrolled in Texas Public Universities Located within 100 Miles of the Texas
Border
Waiver for Students from Mexico Enrolled in Graduate Degree Programs in Public Health
Waiver of Nonresident Tuition for Foreign Service Officers Stationed in Mexico Attending Public
Institutions of Higher Education in Texas
Waiver Program for Registered Nurses Enrolled in Postgraduate Nursing Degree Programs
47
Following are examples of two universities who provide free or
discounted tuition and fees based on family income. There are many
other colleges that do the same. Check the website of the university you
will be attending to find out if they offer the same type of program.
Angelo State University's Blue and Gold Guarantee Program
The Blue and Gold Guarantee program will cover all tuition and mandatory fees over eight long semesters (summer
terms not included). To maintain the financial support over the course of eight consecutive long semesters,
individuals accepted into the program must meet and maintain published financial aid criteria and show satisfactory
academic progress as an undergraduate student.
Eligibility requirements are as follows:
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Must be a bona fide Texas Resident (Determined by the ASU Admissions Office according to state guidelines.)
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Must be entering college as a first-time freshman
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Any normal advanced placement or dual credit that counts towards the ASU degree, as well as community college
courses taken in the summer between high school graduation and ASU enrollment, will not prevent consideration of
applicants as first-time freshmen.
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Students accepted as incoming transfer students are not eligible for the program.
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Must have a combined family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $40,000 or less
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Family AGI will be determined annually by the dependency status of the applicant based on information entered on
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Dependent applicant – parent and student combined AGI.
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Independent applicant – student and spouse (if applicable) combined AGI.
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Must be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant Program
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Determined by the information on the FAFSA according to federal guidelines.
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Must complete all financial aid application requirements by the published priority application deadline - currently
April 1 preceding the application period
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Admission to the University as a regular degree seeking student.
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Financial Aid Office receipt of a valid (not in reject status) Student Aid Report (SAR) – electronic output information
from the federally processed FAFSA.
Financial Aid Office receipt of ALL required verification documents if chosen for the process of verification by the
federal processor or the ASU Financial Aid Office including but not limited to:
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Completed and signed Verification Worksheet (VW)
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Signed copy of the student and spouse (if applicable) income tax transcript
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Signed copy of the parent(s) income tax transcript
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Completed and signed Statement of Income and Expense form (if requested)
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Requested documents to explain any individual circumstance
48

Dependency Change Request Form – including any supporting documentation required by ASU Financial Aid
Office
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Special Circumstance Form – including any supporting documentation as required by the ASU Financial Aid Office
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Must enroll in and maintain a minimum of 15 semester credit hours through the official census date (12th class day)
of each semester
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Must meet and maintain the minimum standards of ASU’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
The ASU Blue and Gold Guarantee Program will cover the remaining balance of any tuition and mandatory fees
that are not covered by other grants, scholarships (all sources), exemption and/or waiver programs received by the
applicant. The program does not cover room, board, books, supplies, or miscellaneous charges including parking
fees, installment plans, and other fees.
Red Raider Guarantee Program
In an effort to increase access to higher education, Texas Tech has implemented a plan to
guarantee tuition and mandator y fees (based on 30 credit hours for the year) to new entering
freshmen and transfer students with an associate's degree, who are Texas residents, have a family
adjusted gross income that does not exceed $40,000, and who will be enrolled full time (12 hours
or more each semester).
Eligible students must apply, be accepted for admission and have a complete financial aid file
before March 15 to be considered for Red Raider Guarantee. Students may qualif y for the program
for up to eight (8) semesters o f full-time enrollment for incoming freshmen, and up to four (4)
semesters for transfer students with an associate's degree.
Red Raider Guarantee ensures tuition and mandatory fees up to 30 credit hours per year, will be
paid by a combination of federal, s tate, and institutional funds. Examples of funds include, but are
not limited to: PELL Grant, SEOG, TEXAS Grant, Texas Public Education Grant, Texas Tech
Grant, scholarships (external and/or internal) etc.
This guarantee is subject to change without notice based on the annual funding levels provided to
the university by the federal and state education agencies.
Red Raider Guarantee Requirements:
 Must be an entering freshman or transfer student who has earned an associate's degree.
 Must be eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
 Must be a Texas resident
 Must have a family adjusted gross income of $40,000 or less
 Must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 hours) each semester
 Must apply, be accepted for admission and have a com plete financial aid file by March 15
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How to Succeed in College
Strategies for Students who Want to Graduate From College
Some students fail in college. Others drop out. However, all students can do well in college and graduate
if they learn the secret to succeeding in college.
Although there are exceptions, most students begin college with every intention of graduating;
however, according to a report issued by The Education Trust, a Washington-based nonprofit group, the
reality is that only 63 percent of students who enter a four-year university will earn a degree, and it will
take them an average of six years to do so. The other 37 percent will either drop out of school before
finishing or else flunk out of their programs of study, according to USA Today.com. So, the question is,
how can students succeed in college?
The Key to Succeeding in College
So what about the 37 percent of students who actually make it through college and graduate? What do
they possess that other students lack? For one, they possess the following traits and skills:
 Determination
 Time management skills
 Ability to follow directions
 Ability to meet deadlines
 Communication skills
 Reading and study skills
 Critical thinking skills
 Technology skills
 Research skills
 Ability to follow APA or MLA guidelines
 Money management skills
Determination is Crucial to Success in College
Commitment is the primary characteristic of students who graduate from college, for if students are
truly determined to succeed, they will not only acquire the necessary skills but also overcome all
obstacles that arise, human or otherwise, that could possibly prevent their success.
Importance of Time Management in College
There are only so many hours in each day, and many students work full time and/or have families, so
they must set priorities and allocate sufficient time to devote to schoolwork, which means they might
not have much free time while in college but this lack will greatly increase their likelihood of success.
Importance of Following Directions in College
Students must follow directions for assignments and do exactly what they are being asked to do, not
something else, which means they must speak up and ask for clarification if directions are unclear.
Importance of Meeting Deadlines in College
Students must submit assignments by their due dates because although some instructors accept late
assignments, others don’t, and even those who do invariably apply a penalty if an assignment is
overdue.
Importance of Communication Skills in College
Students must be able to express themselves, in writing and orally, because they have to write countless
papers and essays, as well as conduct occasional oral presentations. As a result, students should
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purchase a good grammar text and use it, as well as avail themselves of college programs, for example,
tutorials and writing labs.
Importance of Reading and Study Skills in College
Students must be able to comprehend what they read because if they cannot comprehend the
information, chances or slim to none they will succeed in their studies. Moreover, students need to
know how to study for quizzes and exams. As a result, if they have difficulty comprehending what they
read or studying effectively, students must work to improve reading comprehension and study skills.
Importance of Critical Thinking Skills in College
Everyone thinks, but not everyone is a critical thinker. However, in order to succeed in college, students
must learn to think critically, which involves taking time to examine issues and arguments, ask questions,
validate evidence, and think outside the proverbial box.
Importance of Listening Skills in College
Most people are poor listeners. Anyone, however, can become a better listener by making an effort; and
students must make the effort because if they don’t, they might not hear and retain information from
lectures and, as a result, will fare poorly on quizzes and tests. Moreover, they might also miss important
directions for class assignments.
Importance of Research Skills in College
Students must conduct research for papers and presentations, so they should learn to distinguish
between credible sources and those they are questionable or dubious. Moreover, they must learn how
to avoid committing plagiarism, however unintentionally, and to cite sources correctly.
Importance of Learning to Format Papers in College
Students should learn to format papers correctly, and since there are so many helpful tools available, for
example, websites that provide step-by-step instructions, there is really no excuse for anyone’s not
learning this skill.
Importance of Money Management In College
Money management is an important skill to acquire because if students are worried about finances, that
worry will interfere with their ability to concentrate upon schoolwork, and if students cannot
concentrate upon schoolwork, then they are far more likely to fail or dropout before graduation.
In summary, although all of the skills discussed above are important, the most important is
“determination,” because if students are committed enough to their own success, they will make the
necessary effort to acquire the other skills, and, ultimately, they will succeed in college.
Read more at Suite101: How to Succeed in College: Strategies for Students who Want to Graduate From
College http://colleges.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_succeed_in_college#ixzz0wxrOa6xP
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5 Steps for How to Succeed in College1
1
The Golden Rule: Whatever you do, DO NOT procrastinate. College academics, especially in the first and second
terms, is not meant to present itself as arbitrarily difficult. Unlike high school, college asks you to formulate your own
understanding, rather than having a teacher feed you facts for later regurgitation. Keeping caught up with your professor's
lesson plan, as well as the course material, will save later stress, anxiety, and feelings of intellectual inadequacy.
2
2
Get passionate. It is crucial to establish your personal, positive frame of mind in regards to your education. Take a
moment to reflect on what you enjoy doing and studying, and what you're genuinely interested in. What are your goals?
What are your plans? Knowing yourself, and your reason for being in college, will eliminate any tinge of self-doubt or
emptiness that might arise due to an intense, seemingly cold and emotionless academic atmosphere.
3
3
Appreciate your opportunities. In addition to creating and maintaining a consistent mindset, you must also not
develop an adversarial perception of learning and knowledge. Remember, you're not the only one who is beneficially
affected from your college education. Besides making you a more informed, rational, and moral human being, receiving a
higher education will also enrich the lives of your parents as they begin to feel accomplished by raising you into the
knowledgeable and skilled person who you have become. A negative, apathetic, or adversarial attitude towards your
education will only prove self-defeating in the long run. If you perceive learning as a chore, it will become a chore. So
even if you are not interested in a subject or course, try to apply your strengths and academic preferences to it. For
example, if you are an Economics major and hold a grudge against your college for requiring a physics GE, try to find
ways you can apply that physics course to your own field of study.
4
4
This fourth step pertains to your social life. Regardless of your perception of social situations, groups, or whether
you like them or not, it is only to your benefit to establish as many friendships as possible. Only through surveying a
wide range of associates will you find a few good friends to hold on to. Much to your surprise, a healthy relationship with
new and old friends will provide a necessary support network as well as minimize those moments of isolation or
loneliness that may bring you down. 5
5
Lastly, the fifth step deals with your personal finances. Depending on your financial situation, you can easily save
yourself from making wasteful, excess purchases and potential money problems if you make a conscious decision to
distinguish which resources, material goods, and services are NEEDs and which are merely WANTS. If the item you wish
to buy is necessitated by a NEED, then by all means purchase it. But, if you find yourself easily swayed by a penchant for
the extravagant pleasures and comforts of life, make sure you limit your spending on items of hedonistic WANT. If you
happen to be in sound financial shape (i.e. through parental support, scholarships, grants, financial aid) then this should
not be a major concern for you. Otherwise, a key piece of fiscal advice is to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!
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